Sarah Gray
· 7 min read
If you’re shopping for a new Audi Q3, you may want to take a look at its closest competitors—like the BMW X1, Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class, and Buick Envision—before making up your mind.
The Q3 may be the smallest of Audi’s SUVs, but you still get the quintessential Audi experience behind the wheel. From nimble handling to luxe interior appointments, the Q3 is Audi through and through. However, other luxury crossovers offer more spacious rear-passenger room and other options that could sway you in their favor.
To make sure you get exactly what you’re looking for in a compact luxury crossover,
Jerry
, the super app that saves drivers time and money on car insurance
, has gathered the deets on Audi Q3 competitors to watch out for. Read on for the top eight Q3 rivals, as well as the secret to saving money on Audi Q3 car insurance costs
(or insurance for any other vehicle).1. Volvo XC40
Starting price: $36,195 to $42,945
Selling points: Innovative styling, lots of standard driver assists
Weak spot: Less fuel-efficient than competitors, unimpressive infotainment
With standard driver-assist features and a functional, well-styled interior, the Volvo XC40 is stiff competition for any compact crossover. While even the base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder offers enough playful power to keep drivers entertained, the more powerful T5 turbo-four, capable of achieving up to 248 horsepower, is sure to please even the most discerning pilots.
But the XC40 isn’t just about driving fun. With above-average cargo capacity and a surprising towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, it’s a multi-talented ute great for family hauling and weekends away. It’s a bit less fuel efficient than many in its class, but it’s still an ideal competitor for the Audi Q3.
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4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers2. BMW X1
Starting price: $36,395 to $38,395
Selling points: Spry handling, eager powertrain
Weak spot: Boring styling, out-of-date infotainment
The BMW X1 is a practical, if somewhat ho-hum, addition to the Audi Q3’s competitor ranks. Luckily, “boring” only applies to looks here, as the X1’s 228-horsepower turbo-four makes for a peppy and playful drive.
As you’d expect from BMW, the X1 offers refined, nimble handling and interior style, combined with functionality that makes it stiff competition in the compact crossover game.
3. BMW X2
Starting price: $37,595 to $48,000
Selling points: Agile handling, sporty powertrains
Weak spot: Boring interior, rough ride
The BMW X2 shares a lot in common with the X1, but with its own unique styling and a more powerfully tuned turbo-four, they are definitely sisters—not twins. Where the X1 is more affordable and practical, the X2 is both more stylish and more performance-focused, especially in the M35i configuration, which boasts a zesty 302-horsepower engine.
Of course, the more powerful engine means a sacrifice in fuel economy, but it’s a small price to pay for the X2’s pep. Plus, while the X2 may boast more pleasing looks on the outside, it falls short of the X1 in interior styling and cargo space. Regardless, both Bimmers should be on anyone’s list when considering competitors for the Audi Q3.
4. Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class
Starting price: $37,450 to $56,450
Selling points: Responsive driving, well-equipped upscale interior
Weak spot: Sparse standard features, expensive options
The Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class offers a perfect option for those looking to get in on the luxury SUV game on a budget. It is diminutive, to say the least, but its ride height and door size make it easy to get in and out of—even if cargo space is sparse at best.
While the GLA’s base configuration is affordably priced, it probably won’t offer all the bells and whistles you’d want in a competitor for the Audi Q3. For that, you’d need to upgrade to one of the AMG configurations.
With a base 302-horsepower engine or an upgraded 382-horsepower powertrain, the AMG offers the driving excitement and spry handling drivers expect from a Mercedes SUV. However, it comes at a higher price than the Q3.
5. Lexus NX
Starting price: $39,425 to $58,475
Selling points: Standard driver-assist features, upscale interior
Weak spot: Sparse base model, boring handling
Lexus has completely redesigned the Lexus NX for 2022, creating a much more competitive option than previous model years. While the base model is affordably-priced, buyers will need to opt for a mid-range trim to get the luxury features they’ve come to expect in this segment, like a 275-horsepower, 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder.
Inside, the NX offers a serene, if somewhat small, interior with available luxury upgrades, such as premium equipment, quilted leather upholstery, and cloud-connected navigation. BMW and Mercedes models offer more variety for your money, but the Lexus NX should certainly be on your list of considerations when you’re looking at Q3-adjacent options.
6. Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class
Starting price: $39,650 to $41,650
Selling points: Spacious throughout, innovative styling
Weak spot: Sparse standard features, cramped optional third row
If you’re looking for Mercedes handling and equipment in a small, more maneuverable package, the Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class may be your best bet. While it offers the same 221-horsepower four-cylinder powertrain for similar performance to the GLA-Class, the GLB’s more upright design translates to increased cargo capacity and even an available third row of seating.
The GLB-Class’s cavernous interior is what truly sets it apart from competitors like the Audi Q3. That said, to get the same luxury appointments, buyers have to tack on pricey options considered standard equipment on rivals.
7. Acura RDX
Starting price: $41,795 to $55,295
Selling points: Agile handling, ample standard features
Weak spot: Rough-shifting transmission, unintuitive infotainment system
If we were to choose two words to describe the Acura RDX, they would be “budget luxury.” While the RDX is stylish and roomy, it also includes blatant cost-cutting measures that simply won’t fly for the discerning buyer. First among these is the availability of a single powertrain option—a 272-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. This powerplant alone is more than satisfactory, but when paired with a sometimes clumsy 10-speed automatic transmission, it becomes a problem.
Inside, the RDX is in no way cheap, but it’s also not what most would describe as luxurious. It takes more than multi-colored ambient lighting to create a luxury passenger cabin, and designers seemed more focused on a sporty interior appearance than a luxurious space when outfitting this Q3 competitor.
8. Buick Envision
Starting price: $32,845 to $41,120
Selling points: Impressively affordable, comfortable ride
Weak spot: Sluggish, not quite a luxury crossover
If you can’t quite pull together the scratch for the Audi Q3, the Buick Envision may be a great option. It’s much nicer and better equipped than you might expect, creating a gray area between luxury and economy that we’re more than willing to drive in.
All Envisions are motivated by 228-horsepower turbo-fours that offer adequate if not quite eager acceleration. The base-model Envision is a bit spartan, but opting up to the top-of-the-line Avenir trim only brings you up to $42,000, which is the base price of many higher-end models.
This top trim gets you everything from driver’s seat massage functions to a head-up display to a wireless charging pad. With such a reasonable price tag, the Buick Envision is stiff competition for the Audi Q3.
MORE: Everything you need to know about Buick electric cars
Audi Q3 vs. the competition
Want to see it all laid out? Below is our side-by-side comparison of the 2023 Audi Q3 with its fiercest competitors.
Model | Starting price range | Engine options | Maximum seating capacity | Maximum cargo volume | Maximum towing capacity | Fuel economy (city/highway/combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Audi Q3 | $37,595 to $43,195 | Turbocharged 4-cylinder | 5 seats | 48 cu ft | 4,400 lbs | 19/27/22 mpg |
2022 Volvo XC40 | $43,295 to $57,845 | V6 | 5 seats | 17 cu ft | 4,400 lbs | 26/36/30 mpg |
2022 BMW X1 | $36,395 to $38,395 | Turbocharged 4-cylinder | 5 seats | 58.7 cu ft | 3,700 lbs | 23/31/26 mpg |
2023 BMW X2 | $37,595 to $48,000 | Turbocharged 4-cylinder | 5 seats | 50.1 cu ft | 4,000 lbs | 24/32/27 mpg |
2022 Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class | $37,450 to $39,450 | 4-cylinder | 5 seats | 50.5 cu ft | 4,400 lbs | 23/27/26 mpg |
2022 Lexus NX | $39,425 to $58,475 | Turbocharged 4-cylinder | 5 seats | 54.5 cu ft | 2,000 lbs | 22/29/25 mpg |
2022 Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class | $39,650 to $41,650 | Turbocharged 4-cylinder | 5 seats | 62 cu ft | 7,000 lbs | 23/31/26 mpg |
2022 Acura RDX | $40,995 to $51,995 | Turbocharged 4-cylinder | 5 seats | 79.8 cu ft | 1,500 lbs | 21/26/23 mpg |
2022 Buick Envision | $32,845 to $41,120 | 4-cylinder | 5 seats | 52.7 cu ft | 1,500 lbs | 22/29/25 mpg |
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The field of luxury crossovers gets more crowded every day, and that makes picking the one that’s right for you a challenge. While there may not be a simple algorithm that can figure out which crossover will best fit your needs, we’re happy to say that we’ve got one that can find your best fit for
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